Changeable exhibitor



y 4, 1 1.. J. GOTTSC HALK CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Filed June 6, 1941 V I LHSYIZITOR Z Y 3; ,H. W Y.-A;TORYNEY I FIGJ Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Lionel J. Gottschalk, New Orleans, La. Application June 6, 1941, Serial No. 396,855

4 Claims. (01.40 77) My invention relates to changeable exhibitors, and particularly to devices of this character in which the usefulness of lamp shades is extended or augmented by employing two shades of different character, one of which is somewhat smaller than the other and located concentrically therein and with a source of illumination located inside of said shades. In my preferred form of invention, the covering of the inner shade is of relatively transparent material while the covering of the outer shade is of relatively opaque or somewhat translucent material and provided with one or more windows orobservation openings through which the outline of opaque lettering or figures carried by the inner shade may be easily discernible or read when the source of illumination is turned on. One of the shades is preferably removable from the other in order that the opaque matter which is to be observed may be readily applied to the inner shade and may be replaced by other opaque matter whenever it is desired to do so.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of a device by means of which calendar information or radio programs carried by the inner shade may be readily seen through the window of the outer shade when the light is on. Another object is to provide a constructionin which one of the shades may be turned rela-' tively to the other so that different sections of the inner shade may be made to register with the window of the outer shade. In this way, radio programs for at least a week may be applied to the inner shade, and the proper one exposed to view from day to day. While I have referred to radio programs and calendar information, it is obvious that other matter having opaque parts such as road maps may be carried by the inner shade.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the outer shade provided with an opening or window.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device showing the shade frames in position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a portion of the inner shade frame which carries a clamping device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamping device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6- is a vertical sectional view showing a pivotal support for the shade frames and the turning device for the inner shade frame.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a down-- wardly flanged plate li-L supports an outer shade frame consisting of spider-like ribs l-S secured at their inner ends to the flange of this plate and radiating therefrom. These ribs as shown in Fig. 3 extend downwardly and outwardly and are then turned or bent so as to extend upwardly with a ring I'U secured to the upper ends thereof. A ring l-L is secured to these ribs at the places where they are bent upwardly.

Outer shade material M is secured to the lower ring l-L and to the upper ring lU as shown in Fig. 2 and is provided with at least one window or observation opening W. Twovertical rods 1 (shown in Fig. 1) are secured to the rings IU and lL for the purpose of attaching the material of the outer shade so as to frame the window W.

The plate 6-L is rigidly secured to the middle portion of an arched supporting rod H! which passes through holes drilled in lugs 6E extend ing down from the plate 6L. The rod l0 arches around the light bulb G of the lamp and is fas tened to the base of the lamp (not shown). Also in order to prevent confusion with the ribs of the shade frames, the lower portions of the rod ID are notv shown.

' Formed in the uppersurface of the plate 6L is an annular groove 6-0 shown in Fig. 6 into which .is adapted to fit, a co-operating annular rib 6-R carried by the under side of an upwardly flanged plate 6U which is adapted to turn freely around a vertical shaft 6-0 which is firmly attached to the center of the lower plate 6L.

The upper plate 6-U supports a turnable inner shade frame consisting of spider-like ribs 2-S secured at their upper ends to this plate and radiating therefrom as will be understood from Figs. 3 and 6. An upper ring 2 and a lower ring 2-L are secured to the ribs 2S. Adjacent to and between the upper and lower rings 2 and 2L, bands 5 and 5L respectively of thin metal or similar firm material are stretched around the ribs 2-8 to assume a polygonal shape as shown in Fig. 1. This, figure shows an octagon, but it will be understood that the number of Y sides for the polygon may be varied as desired.

The bands and 5--L serve to support inner shade material to be stretched around to cover the periphery of the inner frame, this material obviously assuming the same polygonal shape as the bands 5 and 5L.

The inner shade frame is adapted to be rotated around its axial line between the bend of the curved ribs 1-8 and inside of the periphery of the outer shade frame. For this purpose, a knob 6--K is secured to theupper plate 6'-U. This knob is bored through its center so that it may be easily rotated around the vertical shaft 6--C previously referred to. This knob also has a larger bore concentric with the smaller bore drilled part way through the knob thereby forming a shoulder and casing for a coiled spring 6-A. This spring reacts under compression against the under side of a cap-nut 6B when the nut is screwed down upon a shoulder at the top of the shaft 6C, thus maintaining contact under pressure between the surfaces of the fixed plate 6-L and the turnable plate 6-U.

By referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, it will be understood that I employ a clamping device which holds the ends of a strip of material to be stretched around the inner shade frame to form a covering therefor. The two ends of the mate'- rial' are passed from the outside of the frame between two closely spaced vertical rods 4R. A rubber strip 5-B which is V shaped in cross section and held in a metal holder 5-C is then forced against th material passing between it and the two rods 4'-R,. This is due to the ac-' tion of springs 4-Supon' arms 4-A which are secured at one end tothe holder 5C. The

spnings' 4S are wound around a rod 4-T which acts as a fulcrum, with one end of the springs in engagement with the arms 4A and the other end in engagement with oneof the ribs 2'-S. Therod 4-T is attached at its-ends to two thin metal hangers 4B which are secured to the rings land 2-L. Asshown in Fig. 4, the arms 4-A which carry the wedge holder 5C are secured to the rod 4-T.

The operation and advantages of my invention will bereadily understood in connection with the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing; By having one or more windows or observation openings in the wall of the relatively opaque outer shade, any outline of lettering or figures of opaque material made on or carried by the surface of the relatively tranparent inner shade and made to register with said. window may be readily seenwhen the light of the lamp on. which the shades are placed is turned on. The inner shade preferably has polygonal sides so that any desired matter may be readily attached thereto. Such attachment may be made in any convenient manner as by the use of paper clips when the inner shade is removed from inside of the outer shade. Since the inner shade when in place is rotatable on its axial line, all of the opaque matter carried by this shade may eventually be made readable or discernable whenever desired when the lamp is turned on. For instance, by attaching radio programs to the respective sides of the inner shade, such programs for a week or more may be made observable by imparting successive rotative movements to the inner shade. While the form of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form for illustration it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A changeable exhibitor comprising a fixed plate-like member positioned at the upper portion thereof, a plate-like member supported for rotation on said fixed member, an outer open top. and open bottom lamp shade having a Window and suspended at its top entirely from said fixed member, an inner open top and open bottom lamp shade of greater light transmitting character than that of said outer shade suspended at its top entirely from said rotatable member and adapted to carry matter to be exhibited, means attached to said rotatable member whereby saidinner shade may be manually given rotative-movement of any desired degree, and a source of illumination inside of said shades.

2. A changeable exhibitor comprising a support, an outer lamp shade carried by said support, an inner shade frame rotatably and removably supported inside of said outer shade, a lamp shade of greater light transmitting character carried by said frame, twoclosely spaced vertical rods carried by said frame, a wedge shaped member pivotally carried by said frame, aspring device for causing said Wedge shaped member to be normally positioned between said rods for clamping said inner shade, said outer frame havinga window, and a sourceof illumination inside of said shades.

3. Achangeable exhibitor comprising a plate, a seriesof ribs radiating from said plate, an outer lamp shade carried by said ribs, a'second plate rotatably mounted on said first plate, a series of ribs radiating from said second plate, an inner. lamp shade of greater light transmitting. character as compared with said outer shade carried by saidsecond seriesof ribs inside ofsaid outer shade, said outer shade having a window, and a source of illumination inside of said shades.

4. Achangeable exhibitor comprising a plate, a series of ribs radiating from said plate, an outer lamp shade carried by said ribs, a shaft extending up from said plate, a second plate mounted on said first plate and adapted for rotation around said shaft, a knob secured to the upper surface of said second plate and surrounding said shaft, said knob having an enlarged bore forming a shoulder in the lower portion thereof, a cap-nut for the upper end of said shaft, a coiled spring in said bore between said nut and said shoulder for maintaining contact under pressure between said plates, said outer shade having a window, and a source of illumination inside of" said shades.

LIONEL J I GOTTSCHALK. 

